Maya Sobolev & Aaron Schurman

Maya Sobolev and Aaron Schurman met at Quinnipiac University when they were freshmen, but it wasn’t until just before graduation that things took a turn for the romantic. After years of hanging out in the same group of friends, Aaron confessed that he felt something more. “It’s funny—I never thought of him as a potential boyfriend, ever,” Maya admits. “But before I knew it, he completely won me over.”

The New England–born couple (she grew up in Brookline and Dover; he’s from Wakefield, Rhode Island) moved to Los Angeles for work after college. But when it came time to plan their wedding, they decided the celebration had to be back on the East Coast. “It’s still in our hearts,” Maya says.

The pair dragged their parents to 10 potential venues, but ultimately settled on a location as close to home as possible—the backyard of Aaron’s childhood home—for a scenic wedding with a bohemian feel. At their outdoor ceremony, for example, Maya and Aaron asked the bridesmaids and groomsmen to sit in the front row, so that they would be the only people standing under the chuppah with the rabbi. “I wanted the focus to be us, these two people who have a connection,” Maya says. “I just wanted to keep that feeling alive throughout the ceremony.”

This sign—handpainted by Maya on a tree stump from her parent’s house—led revelers to the festivities.

Maya’s maid of honor and two bridesmaids chose their own Amsale gowns.

Mini loaves of bread tied with twine marked each guest’s place.

Guests sipped mint lemonade and cucumber water from mason jars.

The save-the-dates featured a strip of photo-booth snapshots.

The rustic floral arrangements complemented the vintage china the couple rented for the reception.

A 1953 MG TD—owned by the proprietor of the nearby Sugar Loaf Hill B & B—made for a great photo prop.